Lamp-socket.



PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903.

H. G. WIRT. LAMP SOCKET. APPLIOATIOH FILED APR. 30, 1900.

H0 MODEL.

Witnesses Inventor.

Herbert G Wi rt',

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, Pu noupao, NASHINGYUN,

No. rames.

UNITED STATES Patented:August 4, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT O. WIRT, OF SOHENEOTADY,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL LAM P-SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 735,188, dated August 4, 1903.

Application filed April 30, 1900.

To all whom it rmty concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT C. WIRT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sockets for electric lamps, its object being to provide a socket which is safe in operation and simple in construction, which does not require an inclosing metal casing, and is provided with novel means for the attachment of a lamp-shade.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec- :5 tion of a socket constructed in accordance with the invention and provided with circuitbreaking mechanism. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the socket at right angles to the section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of the socket shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the cap and cover removed. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of a socket embodying the features of the invention, but not provided with circuit-breaking mechanism. Fig.

5 is a central vertical section of the same, taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a plan of the same with the cap and cover removed.

The principal part of the socket is the base B, which is composed of suitable non-combustible insulating material, such as porcelain, and is hollow, with the partition P intermediate its ends, so that it is H-shaped in vertical section, or it might be regarded as formed with end cavities. The. upper cavity has two side walls extending therein from opposite sides, with their upper ends in planes below the end of the base-forming ledges d and e, and .between the inner faces of these 0 walls a transverse groove or channel is provided for the reception of the switch. The upper portion of the base is formed with grooves X, which communicate with the interior by holes Z. A cap 0 is provided with arms A, which engage in the grooves X and are provided with threaded holes,which register with the holes Z in the base. A cover V is mounted over the cap A and over the end of the base and is provided with holes which register with the holes in the cap and base. Screws W pass through the holes in the cover,

Serial No. 14,844. (No model.)

the cap, and the base to retain the parts in position. The cap 0 may be provided with a threaded end perforation for the reception of an insulating-sleeve or for attachment to a suitable support.

Suitable socket-terminals D and E are secured to the ledges d and 6 across the transverse groove or channel in the upper compartment of the base and are adapted for the reception of binding-posts T and T for retaining the supply-circuit terminals, and an exteriorly and interiorly screw threaded sleeve S, of conducting material, is secured in the lower compartment of the base by means of screws H, which pass through the central partition P and engage the socketterminal E to secure it in its position in the upper compartment and to electrically connect the sleeve S and the terminal E.

Ths socket-terminal D is secured in the upper compartment of the base by screws Y, Fig. 2, which extend through the partition P and are separatedfrom the sleeve S by suitableinsulation I.

A support [I is secured in the upper compartment of the base by means of a conducting pin or screw E, whichextends through the partition P into the other compartment of the base and serves as a central contact for a lamp screwed into the sleeve S. Oonducting material G may be secured by the screw F to the partition P. A conducting-spring D is secured to the metallic support U by means of a rivet Q. The support U is perforated for the reception of a spindle M, which is provided with an insulating-handle L, and a switch-piece N, loosely mounted on the spindle, being constructed in accordance with my Patent No. 559,474, dated May 5, 1896. The 0 switch-piece N cooperates with the socketterminal D and the springD to make and break the circuit to the lamp.

A shade-holder, comprising a lower ring R and an upper portion connected with the 5 the lower ring by arms A and having a depending ring 1', is held in position against the lower portion of the insulating-base B by means of a nut K, of insulating material, which is secured upon the exterior of the sleeve S and forces the shade-holder up against the insulating-base. This nut serves also to insulate the exterior of the projecting portion of the sleeve S whether the shade-holder is used or not, and it is obvious that any other equivalent of the nut may be employed, if desired, when the shade-holder is not used. Thus, for example, the side walls of the lower compartment may be extended to cover the entire length of the sleeve.

The socket shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 embodies the main features of the invention, but is not provided with circuitbreaking mechanism. The socket-terminal D is therefore directly connected with and retained by the conducting-screw F, the screws Y and the spring D being unnecessary. A single screw H suflices to secure and connect'together the terminal E and the sleeve S, a second screw J, with its nut, serving as an additional means for securing the sleeve S in position and being separated from the terminal D and the upper compartment of the base by means of suitable insulation 1.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. A lamp-socket, which comprises an insulating-base, an exteriorly and interiorly screw-threaded metal sleeve secured thereto for the reception of a lamp-base, a shadeholder having a depending inner ring, and a nut of insulating material which is secured upon the sleeve inside said ring, to retain the shade-holder in place.

2. A lamp-socket, which comprises a hollow single-piece insulating-base, which is substantially H-shaped in cross-section, being formed with two compartments having a partition between them, the side walls of the compartments being the rims which extend in opposite directions from the partition, a socket-terminal in one compartment, an exteriorly and interiorly screw-threaded metal sleeve in the other compartment, a screw which mechanically and electrically connects the socket-terminal and the sleeve, a shadeholder having an inner depending ring, and a nut of insulating material which is screwed upon the sleeve inside said ring, to retain the shade-holder in place.

3. A lamp-socket which comprises a hollow single-piece base of insulating material having a compartment formed in each end thereof, the upper compartment having two thickened side walls provided with ledges located below the end of the base and forming between them an intervening transverse groove or channel, a switch located in said groove or channel, metallic terminals extending across said groove or channel and secured to said ledges, and a metallic sleeve and centercontact secured in the lower compartment.

4. A lamp-socket which comprises a hollow single-piece base of insulating material having a compartment formed in each end thereof, the side walls of the upper compartmentbeing provided with radial holes and two thickened portions provided with ledges 10-.

cated below the end of the base and forming between them a central transverse groove or channel, aswitch located in said groove or channel, metallic terminals extending across said groove or channel and secured to said ledges, a metallic sleeve and center contact secured in the lower compartment, a cap provided with screw-threaded holes which register with the holes in the side walls, and screws engaging the holes in the cap and side walls. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of April, 1900.

HERBERT O. VVIRT. Witnesses: V

BENJAMIN B. H LL, MABEL E. JAooBsoN. 

